Abstract
Access to antiretroviral therapy in Ghana has been scaled up across the country over the last decade. This study sought to determine the occurrence of transmitted HIV-1 drug resistance in pregnant HIV-1 positive women yet to initiate antiretroviral therapy at selected HIV Care Centres in Ghana. Plasma specimens from twenty-six (26) HIV seropositive pregnant women who were less than 28weeks pregnant with their first pregnancy and ART naïve were collected from selected HIV care centres in three (3) regions in Ghana. Genotypic testing was done for the reverse transcriptase gene and the sequences generated were analyzed for HIV-1 drug resistance mutations using the Stanford University HIV Drug Resistance Database. Resistance mutations associated with the reverse transcriptase gene were detected in 4 (15.4%) of the participants. At least one major drug resistance mutation in the reverse transcriptase gene was found in 3 (11.5%) of the women. The detection of transmitted HIV-1 drug resistance in this drug-naïve group in two regional HIV care sites is an indication of the need for renewed action in monitoring the emergence of transmitted HIV-1 drug resistance in Ghana. None declared.
Highlights
Mother-To-Child-Transmission (MTCT) of HIV occurs when an HIV-infected pregnant woman passes on the virus to the baby during the pregnancy, labour, delivery or breastfeeding
Interventions to prevent the transmission of HIV infection from a pregnant woman to her unborn baby involve a multi-pronged strategy which includes the use of antiretroviral drugs.[2]
Efforts to prevent MTCT in Ghana have evolved over the years from an era of single dose nevirapine at the onset of labour (2003 to 2007) to a combination therapy initiated at 28 weeks of gestation coupled with an NVP at onset of labour.[3]
Summary
Mother-To-Child-Transmission (MTCT) of HIV occurs when an HIV-infected pregnant woman passes on the virus to the baby during the pregnancy, labour, delivery or breastfeeding. The majority of the HIVinfected children under 5years were infected through MTCT.[1] Interventions to prevent the transmission of HIV infection from a pregnant woman to her unborn baby involve a multi-pronged strategy which includes the use of antiretroviral drugs.[2] Efforts to prevent MTCT in Ghana have evolved over the years from an era of single dose nevirapine (sd NVP) at the onset of labour (2003 to 2007) to a combination therapy initiated at 28 weeks of gestation coupled with an NVP at onset of labour.[3] Since 2011, combination therapy was initiated at 14weeks of gestation These efforts have led to a steady reduction in new HIV infections among children from 0 to 14 years.[4]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
